It started like any other school lunch—until I noticed my twins, Milo and Wren, whispering nonstop while eyeing their teacher, Mrs. Callahan.
Instead of their usual chaos, they calmly walked up to her desk and handed over a folded note. She opened it, froze for a moment, then quickly tucked it away with a tight smile.
Later, I asked the kids what it said. With dramatic pride, they told me: “We put her on the naughty list. She’s mean and only gives us one cookie.”
I explained they could share their feelings, but not by scaring teachers with secret notes. That evening, Mrs. Callahan emailed me—kind but concerned. We met the next day, laughed it off, and agreed it was a lesson in communication for everyone.
Weeks later, Milo and Wren surprised her with a new note—this time, a heartfelt thank-you letter covered in hearts and stick figures.
That’s when I realized: it wasn’t just mischief. It was them learning how to speak up, and also how to make things right.